"Building lasting professional relationships is the cornerstone of success, creating a synergy that fuels collaboration, personal growth, and job satisfaction."
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Rachel Simon, an accomplished executive, renowned speaker, and bestselling author whose expertise in authentic networking has left an indelible mark on the professional landscape.
In this illuminating conversation, Rachel takes us on a journey through her dynamic career, spanning nearly three decades at the forefront of AT&T—one of the world’s most influential brands. As she dons the hats of an executive, speaker, and author, Rachel shares the pivotal moments that shaped her trajectory, emphasizing the paramount role relationships played in her success.
Diving into her recently published book, “Relationships at Work: How to Authentically Network within Your Company,” Rachel unveils the secrets and skills acquired over the years, with all profits dedicated to the United Way.
Join us as Rachel Simon candidly discusses the evolving significance of networking, narrates a personal story illustrating the profound ripple effect of genuine connections, and offers invaluable insights into common networking mistakes and the future of this crucial professional practice in the era of AI and VR.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Rachel Simon: I’m so excited to be here, and I want to express my gratitude for the invitation to share my insights on authentic networking!
I wear many hats as an executive, speaker, and author. My journey began 29 years ago when I joined AT&T right out of the University of Texas. AT&T is one of the world’s most recognizable brands, a leading provider of wireless and broadband solutions. I’ve navigated through various departments such as Customer Care, Finance, and currently, Privacy.
My career has been fulfilling, overseeing billions of dollars in revenue and expenses and leading diverse teams of thousands of employees, both in management and unionized roles. Throughout my career, relationships have been the cornerstone of my success. I owe my roles to leaders who saw potential in me even when I doubted myself. Embracing challenging opportunities not only expanded my knowledge and job satisfaction but also propelled my career forward.
Nine years ago, I was asked by one of my mentoring circles at AT&T to conduct a session on networking, and it turned out to be a hit! I shared 20 authentic networking tips, each accompanied by real email examples from colleagues. I loved seeing the lightbulbs go off over my colleagues’ heads as I demystified networking for them.
Encouraged by those experiences, I wrote a book. “Relationships at Work: How to Authentically Network within Your Company” was published in September 2023, and quickly became a bestseller. What makes it even more fulfilling is that 100% of the profits go to United Way. Now, my passion lies in teaching the secrets and skills of networking that I’ve acquired over the years.
How has the significance of networking evolved over the past decades?
Rachel Simon: Networking has meant everything to me over my career. Literally everything. It has helped me get my job done better, faster, and easier; it has helped me meet people with diverse views and perspectives; moreover, it has expanded my career.
Yet, the term “networking” can evoke a sense of intimidation for many individuals, myself included! The mere mention of it often leaves me feeling a bit cold, clammy, and uneasy, questioning whether I’m doing enough or doing it right as if there is one perfect way.
In contrast, the word “relationships” carries a warmth that makes me feel comfortable and empowered, evoking a sentiment of “I can do that.” And that is how I’ve shifted my paradigm to be successful. After all, building relationships is not difficult when they are genuine, reciprocal, and authentic.
The key is realizing that networking is not about meeting someone who will give you your next promotion, nor meeting someone who will do you a one-and-done favor. At its core, networking is about making other people feel good. I find immense satisfaction when someone takes the initiative to connect with me – I feel great that they noticed my contributions, attitude, and what I have to offer.
Wouldn’t you feel elated if someone acknowledged your positive outlook, profound insights, or collaborative spirit and expressed interest in learning more about you? That’s the spirit in which I authentically reach out to others to get to know them better.
In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, relationships matter more than ever. We want to work with people we care about and those we root for their success. As humans, we want need connections, friendships, and relationships that will help us both be fulfilled in the workplace and accomplish our jobs successfully!
Can you share a personal story where one networking interaction led to unexpected doors opening, and how it highlights the ripple effect of networking?
Rachel Simon: Like many companies, AT&T has an internal job board for employees to apply for new positions. Over my 29-year career, I have nominated myself for several different roles… and didn’t get a single one. Not one – not for a lateral position or a promotion!
Instead, I was consistently tapped on the shoulder by people in my network to take on new roles. On each occasion, someone reached out to me that I either knew directly, that I had worked with/for in the past, or that I had been referred to as a recommendation.
One of my most fulfilling relationships has been with Mike, an officer in our company. Mike promoted me to Assistant Vice President in Finance, and when he had a Vice President role available, I was the first person who came to his mind. He called to discuss the role and shared that my strong work ethic and skillset made me a perfect fit for the job.
I asked him if I needed to interview, and he replied, “Yes, but you should know you have been interviewing for this job for the eight years I’ve known you, or I wouldn’t be calling you right now.” Wow, let that sink in for a minute – we are interviewing every day and don’t even know it.
Every time we do our best on an assignment, we are interviewing; every time we do just the bare minimum to skate by, we are interviewing. Every time we approach our work with humor, gratitude, and optimism, we are interviewing; every time we express negativity, we are interviewing. It’s a key lesson I love sharing with others: how we show up daily makes a difference.
But the story doesn’t end there. Mike selected me as his choice for the VP role. However, there were other candidates our Chief Financial Officer was considering as well. Mike asked my sponsors and supporters to speak on my behalf and share their thoughts on why I was the best person for the role. I had no idea this was all happening behind the scenes, and I’m so grateful to those in my network who helped me earn this fantastic role.
I’ve heard it said that mentors talk with you, and sponsors talk about you. Present-Rachel appreciated Past-Rachel, who invested in relationships pivotal to earning this big promotion. Of course, I thanked them profusely for their roles and kept the relationships strong for the future.
What are some common networking mistakes people make, and how can they pivot to turn potential missteps into learning experiences?
Rachel Simon: It often surprises people that I, Rachel Simon, the networking expert, am a massive introvert and dislike large networking sessions! You know, the kind in a vast ballroom filled with people or a happy hour with drinks in hand. Perhaps you feel the same. I was always told that networking was important, but I was never taught how.
So, I would consistently show up as a ball of anxiety, chat with a few people I already knew, check the imaginary box that I attended, and leave with little to nothing to show for my efforts. I was clearly going about networking all wrong, a mistake I see many people make.
Over the years, I have learned the secrets to surviving and thriving at these events. Here are a few tips that work for me:
- I assign myself a minimum amount of time I must stay. At the beginning of my career, I used to walk in, feel overwhelmed, and walk right out. Now, I tell myself I must stay for at least 15 minutes, 30 minutes, whatever the case may be. If I’m utterly miserable after that time, I can leave, but I give myself a minimum of time to attend.
- I look for a line to join. Yes, I may be the only person in the world looking for a line – a food line, a drink line, a registration line, etc. That way, I can turn to the person behind me to start a conversation. Don’t talk to the person in front of you because once they get their drink, they are out of there! Instead, speak to the person behind you so you can wait for them if you are enjoying the conversation.
- I immediately note people’s names. I will vulnerably say, “I’m terrible with names, so I am going to write yours down right now or snap a photo of your nametag so I can find you later.” This is usually met with, “I’m terrible with names as well; I’ll do the same!”
- I look to connect with just one new person. I may have to talk with ten people to find that one connection, but I seek to find just one new person to follow up with later. And then, once I get back to my computer, I’ll send them a note telling them how great it was to meet them, pay them a compliment, reference something we discussed, and ask to get lunch or a cup of coffee at another time. This is how I’ve built my network – not one ballroom at a time, but one cup of coffee at a time.
In short, I encourage you to have goals for the large networking sessions. Otherwise, it may be a massive waste of time!
How do you see the future of networking evolving with the rise of AI, VR, and other technologies?
Rachel Simon: I’ll answer this question in two ways. First, there is no doubt that these tools can be of great value and can be extraordinarily helpful.
Here are a few ideas on how to make them work for you: you can use AI to help cultivate a list of people at other companies with jobs similar to yours to reach out to; you can use AI to help pull together a list of articles someone may have published that will guide your discussion; you can use AI to help write an email inviting someone to connect; you can use AI to help you analyze the best conversation starters.
And yet, AI can’t have the conversation for you! The whole goal of an email, Teams/Slack/Zoom/LinkedIn message is to get a face-to-face meeting, lunch, coffee, or one-on-one.
That is how you grow relationships through authentic, genuine conversations. While AI can help prep you for these sessions, you must invest the time to learn to carry a conversation and engage in a meaningful dialogue naturally.
I recommend a balanced approach: leverage technology to increase your efficiency and time management, but don’t lose sight of your authenticity and style for building relationships.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Rachel Simon for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Rachel Simon or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The ValiantCEO Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
